ZoogVPN Review

ZoogVPN is virtually a no-logs VPN that doesn’t collect personally-identifiable data. It does collect anonymized bandwidth data to maintain its free version’s 10GB data limit and account information for processing refunds and customer support queries, but this is typical for most VPN services.

Importantly, ZoogVPN does not collect your originating IP address, DNS requests, timestamps, assigned IP address, or ISP.

Without this information, ZoogVPN cannot help authorities identify a specific user’s browsing history.

One drawback is ZoogVPN hasn’t implemented a diskless server network yet. Many top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have fully converted their networks to prevent logging at a hardware level.

No-Logs Policy Proven in Law Enforcement Data Request

ZoogVPN actually reached out to us and has shown us proof that the service refused to share customer information with government authorities. It has said it “consistently refused such requests.”

The data request was sent via email and the VPN replied it did not have the requested data, and so could not provide it.

ZoogVPN is unable to share user information because it does not collect identifiable data.

You can also use a temporary email address with no personal information included to be extra sure your identity is hidden.

Overall, ZoogVPN has a strict no-logs policy that will protect your identity online, though it doesn’t rank as highly as our favorite no-logs VPN: Private Internet Access.

No Independent Audit & Worrying Warrant Canary

Unlike top-tier VPNs, ZoogVPN doesn’t publish regular third-party audits that confirm its privacy policy is being adhered to.

In comparison, Proton VPN conducts regular audits to prove its paid and free versions don’t log identifying information.

ZoogVPN also hasn’t updated the date in its warrant canary since March 2022, which is when we last emailed ZoogVPN to request clarification on why it hadn’t been updated.

An out of date warrant canary is meant to warns its users service has received an official data request and provided this information on a specific date.

ZoogVPN’s warrant canary should be updated at least monthly.

Given ZoogVPN provided us with proof they received a data request and refused cooperation, it seems the VPN just hasn’t made the page update every month.

In short, ZoogVPN should really keep an up-to-date warrant canary or (even better) a transparency report on its website.

Who Owns ZoogVPN?

ZoogVPN is owned by Zoog Services Single Member Private Company, which is incorporated in Greece, but is headquartered in Ukraine. A majority of its employees are also in Ukraine.

ZoogVPN is featured as a product of Softoria, a company registered in Ukraine, which also advertises data mining services.

Softoria’s management team is a mix of individuals from ZoogVPN, DataforSEO, and DataImpulse.

It’s usually a bit suspicious when affiliated companies of VPNs are also actively operating advertising or data mining businesses.

We reached out via email for clarification on its ownership structure and employees. ZoogVPN confirmed that Softoria and ZoogVPN are owned by the same person, but didn’t confirm who this person was.

ZoogVPN also explained that the company’s corporate structure is not detailed on its website, because of “threats from authorities and law enforcement agencies” and “dangers faced by those who advocate for online privacy, as seen in cases like Pavel Durov.”

Uses Third-Party DNS Servers

Using our IP and DNS leak test tool, we found that ZoogVPN passed our IPv4, IPv6, and WebRTC leak tests. However, it uses third-party DNS servers.

It also failed to mask our geolocation with its macOS app. In theory, it could stop HTML5 leaks on its Chrome extension if there was an HTML5 blocker, but it currently doesn’t have this feature.

Our VPN leaks test detected Google’s DNS servers while connected to ZoogVPN.

As you can see in the image above, ZoogVPN doesn’t support first-party DNS servers, and instead routes all your traffic through Google DNS servers.

This isn’t a total breach of anonymity as your requests are still among thousands of others, but it still isn’t as good as first-party DNS servers.

It’s fairly common for mid-tier VPNs to rely on third-party DNS servers, but ZoogVPN will need to fix this to earn a higher rating in this category.

ZoogVPN provides a bunch of streaming-friendly servers in several locations — they’re clearly marked with a play button symbol.

But they don’t always work; we managed to unblock geo-restricted content on Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and ITV Hub, but we failed to gain access to any Netflix library, including the US one.

You can easily find out which servers are intended to work with your favorite streaming service on ZoogVPN’s network status page.

As for the video quality, ZoogVPN’s speeds are more than fast enough for Full HD streaming with little buffering.

Tested: ZoogVPN Unblocks UK Streaming Services

In our streaming tests, ZoogVPN successfully bypassed geoblocks on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. We were able to stream shows like Doctor Who, Industry, and Love Island without blocks or buffering.

We used ZoogVPN’s paid UK – London 1 server to access iPlayer.

ZoogVPN Doesn’t Unblock US Netflix

Using ZoogVPN, we weren’t able to access US Netflix or any international Netflix library. If you want a VPN that’s reliable with US Netflix and other streaming services, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming.

Connected to ZoogVPN’s New York server, we weren’t able to stream Netflix.

Despite it not working with Netflix, we were able to stream Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, and YouTube with ZoogVPN.

ZoogVPN Free Doesn’t Unblock US Netflix

ZoogVPN Free doesn’t unblock as many services as its paid version, which is typical for a free VPN. Its 10GB monthly data cap also doesn’t allow for endless streaming — it will run out after roughly four hours of Full HD viewing.

Using ZoogVPN Free, we weren’t able to access US Netflix or Disney+, but it did occasionally unblock HBO Max. We used it to stream The Last of Us in HD without buffering.

In our recent tests, ZoogVPN Free’s Washington server worked with HBO Max.

ZoogVPN Free doesn’t come with any streaming-optimized servers for US streaming services, but it does for Singapore.

ZoogVPN’s speeds didn’t disappoint — the VPN performed well, both over short-distance connections and further afield.

Here’s a table showing ZoogVPN’s speed test results:

Uploads and downloads were consistently quick enough for HD streaming and smooth torrenting when we connected to nearby VPN servers. This is much faster than other mid-tier VPNs we’ve reviewed.

Ping times were a little less impressive, but shouldn’t affect the vast majority of users. For a lesser-known product, ZoogVPN’s speeds are great.

These speeds will enable you to stream, torrent, and browse without any buffering or lag.

In our recent speed tests, we used ZoogVPN’s New York server to test its speeds.

ZoogVPN Free Speed Tests

ZoogVPN Free is very fast for a free VPN service. In our tests, ZoogVPN’s free version was almost as fast as the premium version. This makes ZoogVPN one of the fastest free VPNs around, with no sign of speed throttling.

We manually test both free and premium versions of VPNs to compare speed performance.

For the best speeds, we suggest choosing a server that’s close to your actual location. However, since ZoogVPN Free only has servers in 3 countries, a majority of people will not have a server nearby.

To mitigate this issue, we recommend using a free VPN like TunnelBear Free, which gives you access to servers in 47 countries.

Here’s a table showing ZoogVPN Free’s speed test results:

ZoogVPN has the basics covered when it comes to security and additional features.

It connects to OpenVPN by default — one of the most secure connection protocols available – and WireGuard has also been added.

Traffic is also encrypted with AES-256, a cipher that’s considered unbreakable.

There’s also WireGuard and ChaCha20 encryption, which is much faster and uses less data.

ZoogVPN security settings on macOS.

Outside this basic foundation, ZoogVPN has a few advanced settings, like split tunneling on Android and Windows, and a SOCK5 proxy.

This might be enough for casual users, but if you’re experienced with VPN services, then you might find the lack of options frustrating.

There isn’t double VPN, ad blocking, tracker blocking, or WebRTC blocking.

It does have a VPN kill switch for Windows, Android, and macOS, which is responsible for preventing personal data leaks should the VPN connection drop suddenly.

However, we experienced some issues with ZoogVPN’s kill switch in our testing, which we detail below.

Unlike NordVPN, which has extremely detailed software release notes, ZoogVPN doesn’t release any software update notes for any platforms. This means you might miss out key details on important bug fixes and new features.

ZoogVPN Owns Some of Its Servers

Almost all of ZoogVPN’s servers are bare-metal (physical) servers based in the locations described. The service owns a few servers, but leases a majority of them from trusted third-party companies.

ZoogVPN doesn’t specify which of its servers are virtual or physical in the app, but in an email confirmed that servers in “exotic locations” may be virtual.

This isn’t as good as ExpressVPN, which owns its entire physical server network, or PIA, which labels clearly which servers are virtual.

Kill Switch Leaked Our Real IP Address on macOS

We had mixed results when testing ZoogVPN’s kill switch. On Windows, the kill switch was effective and never leaked our real IP address.

But on macOS, ZoogVPN leaked our real IP address when switching servers and when our internet dropped.

Put simply, ZoogVPN’s kill switch did not work on macOS at the time of testing, and we don’t recommend relying on it if you’re using an Apple computer.

ZoogVPN failed our kill switch test on macOS.

Missing Technical Features We’d Like to See

ZoogVPN offers the essentials when it comes to security, which may be enough for beginners or irregular users.

However, there are better VPNs with more advanced features and secure kill switches on all devices.

For ZoogVPN to improve its security rating, it needs to invest in its suite of additional features.

Like most VPNs, a majority of ZoogVPN’s servers are concentrated in Europe. If you live in Africa or Oceania, there’s only two options in each continent.

All of ZoogVPN’s servers are in fact bare-metal servers — that means they’re physically located in the countries they claim to be, which helps prevent slower speeds than you might expect.

With ZoogVPN Free, you can get an IP address in 3 locations – in the Netherlands, UK, and US . This is less than half the amount of server locations that Windscribe Free offers.

It used to offer a free server in Asia, but this was removed recently. ZoogVPN Free used to be one of the best VPNs for Android, but now our recommendations are Windscribe Free and Proton VPN Free.

A ZoogVPN subscription comes with multiple specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and obfuscation.

These servers are designed to be faster and more efficient than regular servers at certain tasks. They are also clearly labeled in the app with icons:

ZoogVPN’s specialized servers are spread across continents.

ZoogVPN free used to offer a streaming and P2P server for free, but now you only get one obfuscated server location – the UK.

Here’s a table detailing the number of specialized servers ZoogVPN offers:

We found it easy to install and set up ZoogVPN on all our test devices. The VPN service has easy-to-follow tutorials on its website.

You can download ZoogVPN and start using it for free on all major platforms once your email address is verified. All versions of the app feature minimal features, just a choice of protocol, a kill switch toggle, and a few extra features on Windows and Android.

Here’s a more detailed look at the interface of each ZoogVPN application:

Desktop & Laptop (Windows & Mac)

ZoogVPN’s desktop clients have some key differences, including the number of protocols available and whether the client is size-adjustable.

Windows is simply the better client, with no bugs and easier navigation. However, both desktop versions have the basics: OpenVPN, a kill switch, and the option to launch the app on startup.

ZoogVPN used to have software bugs on macOS, where the window was fixed to the center of the screen and couldn’t be moved.

We’re really glad to see ZoogVPN has recently fixed these issues, but we would also like the option to resize the window on macOS.

In previous tests, ZoogVPN failed to connect using the OpenVPN protocol on our MacBook Pro. We’re glad to see the VPN is always improving, as this bug has also been fixed following recent software updates.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

ZoogVPN’s mobile apps are easy to install from official app stores, and straightforward to use on mobile.

A kill switch and split tunneling is available on Android, which is great for maintaining your online privacy while on the go. We would like ZoogVPN to develop the same for iOS in the future.

Both mobile apps feature the same dull green and gray color palette as on the desktop clients.

There are other VPNs that are much more attractive on Android and iOS. The only redeeming quality is that ZoogVPN Free on iOS doesn’t require an email address.

The free version on Android and all other platforms requires you to hand over your email address for account verification.

Amazon Fire TV & Android TV

ZoogVPN’s custom apps for Amazon Fire TV and Android TV are user-friendly enough for beginners, but doesn’t actually perform well at unblocking georestricted video content.

It’s also missing key features more advanced users will need. You only have one choice of protocol (OpenVPN) and it doesn’t have a kill switch to prevent IP address leaks.

Unlike other ZoogVPN apps, there isn’t the option to search servers by country on Amazon Fire and Android TV. Instead, you have to manually scroll through every server available.

Lastly, you don’t get access to ZoogVPN’s full catalog of servers on Amazon Fire TV, but you can use 58 of its specialized streaming servers.

ZoogVPN’s premium version offers P2P servers optimized specifically for torrenting.

These P2P-friendly servers are clearly marked within the app’s server locations list. They span many countries including Canada, the US, and a handful of servers in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

We picked up a fast average bitrate when using these servers – 9.6MiB/s. This makes ZoogVPN faster than ExpressVPN (9.4MiB/s) and NordVPN (9.8MiB/s), the best two VPNs on the market.

Although it works on Windows, the kill switch on macOS actually leaks your IP address when your connection drops. This presents a serious risk if you’re using the VPN for protection while torrenting.

We used ZoogVPN’s WireGuard protocol for torrenting tests.

If you’re planning to purchase or use a free VPN for torrenting, we highly recommend checking out Private Internet Access or PrivadoVPN Free.

It is possible to install the software on Linux and routers, but it requires some manual configuration.

You can also use ZoogVPN on up to 5 devices at once using just one subscription, which is a generous amount compared to some of its main competitors.

Here’s a summary of the key differences between ZoogVPN’s applications:

If you want to protect your streaming devices, ZoogVPN has custom apps for both Amazon Fire TV Stick and Android TV.

You can also install ZoogVPN on your router to cover multiple devices at once. We don’t recommend this solution to beginners as it’s quite a complex setup process, but ZoogVPN provides some instructions on its website for more advanced users.

ZoogVPN doesn’t provide any browser extensions, but this isn’t too much of a loss.

While browser add-ons offer a more light-weight experience, they don’t provide the same levels of protection as VPN desktop and mobile apps do.

Obfuscated Servers

ZoogVPN has obfuscated servers and a feature called “Zoogshadowing” for bypassing online censorship. These tools can be effective, but they aren’t the most reliable over a long period of time.

Using ZoogVPN, we watched YouTube in China.

In our recent China tests with ZoogVPN, it took more than five minutes for the VPN to connect to a South Korean obfuscated server (KR – Seoul 2). However, once connected we were able to unblock YouTube and other censored websites.

While ZoogVPN’s paid version is sometimes able to bypass some firewalls, its free version isn’t as reliable in censored regions. We weren’t able to connect to a single server using ZoogVPN Free in China.

If you’re looking for a free VPN to use in censored regions, we recommend checking out Windscribe Free, which has more server locations to choose from and more reliable obfuscation tools.

24/7 Live Chat Support

ZoogVPN’s 24/7 live chat support is useful for quick answers to simple questions. Replies are usually helpful and polite.

For more technical questions, we recommend going straight to ZoogVPN’s email ticketing system. We waited an hour for a response, but replies were helpful when they eventually came.

There’s a basic FAQ section on the ZoogVPN website, along with setup wizards for numerous platforms, but the online resources are far from comprehensive.

We used ZoogVPN’s website contact page to get in touch with customer support.